Electric toilet

ABSTRACT

An electric toilet comprising a cabinet or housing (10), an opening (16) in the top side of the cabinet, a lid (14) assigned to the opening (14), an upper bowl (18) arranged inside the opening, which bowl is openable downwards, a combustion chamber (32) arranged beneath the upper bowl (18) with a combustion space (34) and provided with an opening (36) directed upwards, assigned to which opening is a lid (38), heating coils (44) arranged in the combustion space (34) and an evacuation device (48, 50, 52) connected to the combustion space (34). The invention is characterized in that at least the combustion space&#39;s (34) lower part is formed principally spherically and that the heating coils (44) are arranged in the upper part of the combustion space round its circumference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electric toilet comprising a cabinetor housing, an opening in the cabinet's top side, a lid assigned to theopening, a bowl arranged inside the opening, which bowl is openabledownwards, a combustion chamber arranged under the upper bowl andprovided with an opening directed upwards, arranged to which opening isa lid, heating coils arranged in the combustion chamber and anevacuation device connected to the combustion chamber.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The most common form of toilets without a doubt are water toilets. Forreasons which are self-evident, these cannot be used for certainapplication areas and in certain places, for example holiday cottagesand boats. Other types of toilets have been developed for these, such asearth closets, freezer toilets and electric toilets, for example.Recently these types of toilets have also come into fashion on accountof environmental aspects. Many places and urban districts do not permitwater toilets to be connected up to the sewerage system on account oftreatment plant capacity and groundwater resources. Of the alternativetoilets, electric toilets offer the absolute minimum of waste products.

Electric toilets function so that they are arranged with a receptacleunder a protective lid, into which receptacle a liquid-resistant paperbag is placed. When one has relieved oneself into this and "flushes",i.e. activates the device by stepping on a pedal for example, thereceptacle is opened and the waste drops down into a combustion chamberplaced under the receptacle. When the pedal is then released, thereceptacle and a lid for the combustion chamber are closed. Heatingcoils are then activated in the combustion chamber, which burns thewaste. An evacuation facility from the combustion chamber arranged witha fan sucks out the combustion gases and routes them out into aventilation pipe. Following combustion, only a little ash remains in thebottom of the combustion chamber.

The electric toilets which are on the market have a number ofdisadvantages. Due to the fact that the combustion chamber is designedas a vertical cylinder and the electric coils are arranged in the topedge of the cylinder up by the lid, the coils do not provide uniformradiant heat in the bottom of the combustion chamber, but "pockets" areobtained with poorer heat, especially around the edges between thebottom and the side. Other disadvantages are that the top part of thebag has a tendency to get caught between the lid and the edge of thecombustion chamber, in which case the bag does not collapse when itdrops down but stands up. This also applies if the foot slips off thepedal during "flushing". If combustion is then commenced, the combustionchamber is not closed, but flames may emerge between the lid and theopening.

Another serious disadvantage is the design of the evacuation device. Ifthe power for the electric toilet is lost while combustion is inprogress, the power for the suction fan is also lost. This means thatthe flue gases from the hot feces are no longer sucked out but end up inthe space where the toilet is located, with a powerful stench as aresult. Furthermore, a nasty-smelling coating is obtained on the fan,especially when this is arranged in the path of the flue gases.

From the safety aspect, the electric toilets on the market are notoptimun, as they permit flushing to occur when the protective lid israised. This causes children for example possibly to get the idea intotheir head of stepping on the pedal with the protective lid open, in theevent of which the receptacle and the combustion chamber are opened,with a major risk of burns. In addition, these electric toilets aredisposed with a spring system for suspension of the upper and lower partof the combustion chamber, which springs lose their elasticity with timeon account of the heat and even break, which on the one hand causes agap between the parts of the combustion chamber and on the other meansthat the toilet cannot be used.

A further disadvantage is that the electric toilets on the market do nothave any spillage protection in case a person does not know how thetoilet is to be used and urinates in the receptacle without having firstplaced a bag therein. The urine then runs down through the receptacleand into the interior of the toilet with major cleaning problems as aresult.

Further disadvantages are that the locking of the ash box, i.e. thelower part of the combustion chamber, includes springs which draw thisup towards the upper part of the combustion chamber. These lose theirelasticity after a relatively short time, largely due to the heat fromthe combustion, at which a gap is created between the ash box and theupper part with a strong odor as a result.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the device according to the invention is to remedy theabove problem complex and disadvantages of conventional electrictoilets. This is achieved according to an aspect of the invention by anelectric toilet characterised in that the combustion space of thecombustion chamber is shaped principally spherically and that theheating coils are arranged in the upper part of the combustion spacearound its circumference.

According to an aspect of the invention, it is characterised in that thebottom of the combustion space is arranged with a turning devicedirected upwards.

According to another aspect of the invention, it is characterised inthat the evacuation device is arranged with a fan and that the fan isdriven by low direct-current voltage.

The electric toilet according to the invention displays a number ofadvantages compared with conventional electric toilets. Thanks to thefact that the combustion space is shaped principally spherically andthat the heating coils are arranged in the upper part of the combustionspace, directed heat radiation down towards the bottom of the combustionspace is obtained, whereby uniform heat distribution is obtained withoutcooler "pockets". The heating coils are preferably arranged outside thearea of the opening, whereby the waste is prevented from falling downonto the heating coils during flushing.

The turning device in the bottom of the combustion space ensures thatthe falling bag is turned out and in and the waste is dispersed in thecombustion chamber, which allows a shorter combustion time.

Due to the fact that opening/closing of the toilet takes place by meansof motors, there is no risk of the combustion space closing upinsufficiently, which can occur with pedal maneuvering.

These and other aspects of and advantages of the invention will be clearfrom a detailed description of a preferred embodiment and the subsequentpatent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the following description of a preferred embodiment, reference willbe made to the enclosed drawings, of which

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view in section of an embodiment of an electrictoilet according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of an upper bowl forming part of the deviceaccording to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows the upper bowl according to FIG. 2 rotated by 90° and

FIG. 4 shows a view from above of a bottom plate forming part of thedevice according to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device which is shown in the drawings comprises a cabinet or housing10 of suitably heat-resistant and thermally insulating material. Thecabinet is of a height which makes it comfortable to sit on. On the topside 12 of the cabinet and in the front edge a lid 14 is arrangedarticulately in its rear edge. Arranged under the lid 14 is an opening16, the edge of which is gently rounded. Down in the opening a bowl 18,referred to henceforth as the upper bowl is affixed to the inside at theedges of the opening. The upper bowl 18 is formed with inwardly slopingfront and back walls 20, 22, which meet along a line, and inwardlysloping side walls 24 so that the upper bowl has the appearance of acoffee filter funnel, FIGS. 2 and 3. The back wall 22 is arranged with apart 26 which is hinged rotatably around a bracket 28 a little way up onthe back wall. The hinged part is also arranged with side walls 30 withthe same inclination as the upper bowl's side walls.

Arranged under the upper bowl 18 is a combustion chamber 32. Thecombustion space 34 of the combustion chamber 32 has a principallyspherical shape with a principally circular opening 36 towards the top.The combustion chamber 32 is located in relation to the upper bowl 18 sothat the lower end of the upper bowl's front wall 20 is arranged aboveand by the front edge of the opening 36. The opening of the combustionchamber is provided with a lid 38 which closes the combustion chamber'scombustion space by means of a sealing ring. A hinge arrangement 40 isaffixed both to the hinged part 26 of the upper bowl 18 and to the lid38 of the combustion chamber, which hinge arrangement 40 is actuatedpreferably by an electric motor (not shown).

Arranged on the combustion chamber 32 and around its opening 36 is aspillage guard 42 in the form of a trough with lateral edges. In theupper part of the combustion space, heating coils 44 are arranged in aspiral round the periphery of the combustion space inside an area withthe form of a spherical zone. Due to this design, the heat radiation isdirected downwards towards the centre of the combustion space. Thecombustion space 34 is also arranged with a tuning device 46 in the formof a spike with an upwardly rounded disc on its top in the centre of thechamber's bottom. An evacuation pipe 48 is assigned to the combustionchamber. Affixed in the pipe nearest to the combustion space 34 is acatalyzer 50. The pipe 48 then continues to a suction fan 52 and on toan outlet 54 in the back of the cabinet. The outlet is then connected toa suitable ventilation pipe (not shown). The combustion chamber 32 isdivided into a lower and an upper part, 32a and 32b respectively. Theunderside of the lower part 32a is provided on the one hand with ahandle 56 in its front part and on the other hand with feet or beads 58,three in the embodiment shown. Arranged on the inside of the cabinet'sbottom is a base plate 60 of a certain thickness. Arranged in the baseplate are three grooves 62, FIG. 4, and ramps 64 from the grooves to thetop side of the base plate. Arranged on the front side of the cabinet inits lower part is a door 66.

The device functions as follows. When the toilet has to be used, theprotective lid 14 is raised. A bag of liquid-resistant paper with thesame shape as the upper bowl 18 is placed into this. When one hasrelieved oneself, the protective lid 14 is closed. This activates theelectric motor, which operates the rear part 26 in the upper bowl andthe lid 38 of the combustion chamber 32 so that these open and swing outof the way respectively. The bag then drops down into the combustionspace 34 and ends up on the turning device 46 in its bottom, whereuponthe bag is turned out and in and the waste is dispersed in thecombustion chamber. The rear part 26 and the lid 38 of the combustionchamber 32 are closed, at which the heating coils 44 are activated. Thefan 52 for evacuation is activated. Under the influence of the heat fromthe heating coils 44, the faeces are now burnt, vaporized and/orgasified and the flue gases are conveyed up through the catalyzer 50,where they are purified of unpleasant odors. The flue gases are thenconveyed into the fan 52. This takes its supply air from the inside ofthe cabinet and ensures air circulation therein. The fan rotor 53 whichis arranged between the supply air intake in the fan housing and theflue gas inlet blows the flue gases out into the ventilation pipe. Dueto this design, the flue gases do not pass through the fan rotor or coatthis. Thanks to the design of the combustion chamber and its heatingcoils 44, heat radiation is obtained down towards the faeces and no"pockets" are obtained where the heat radiation reaches poorly.

When the toilet is to be emptied of ash, the door 66 in the front edgeof the cabinet is opened. The handle 56 is then grasped and the whole ofthe lower part 32a of the combustion chamber turned, whereupon the feet58 slide on the base plate 60 and down along the ramps 64 into thegrooves 62. The under-part can then be pulled right out and emptied. Dueto this design, a simple and functional solution is obtained fordividing and attaching the two halves of the combustion chamber withoutsprings and similar arrangements.

The fan is preferably driven by a 12 V motor and the device is equippedwith a back-up battery (not shown). This is for cases in which the powerdisappears before combustion is completely finished in the combustionchamber. It is then ensured that the fan continues to function and letout the odors from the hot waste, at least until it cools down.

The spillage guard 42 is arranged for those cases when a user urinatesinto the device without having placed any paper receptacle in the upperbowl. The urine then runs down from the upper bowl 18 to the spillageguard 42 and when the protective lid is closed the lid 38 for thecombustion chamber is opened and the urine runs down into it. Comparedwith conventional electric toilets without spillage guards, it isconsiderably easier to clean the spillage guard of any urine remainingthan the urine which in conventional toilets is allowed to run downeverywhere in the interior of the toilet, with major cleaning problemsas a result.

The combustion chamber can also be disposed with a pipe inlet. This isconnected via pipes to a urinal arranged close to the device. When onehas relieved oneself in the urinal, the liquid runs down into thecombustion chamber and the urinal is rinsed using a smaller quantity ofwater to remove the odor, which water also runs down into the combustionchamber which burns/gasifies the liquid. With this addition a paperreceptacle does not need to be placed into the upper bowl on urinating.

With an electric toilet according to the invention, a toilet is obtainedwhich is considerably more functional than previous electric toilets andin which the disadvantages these exhibit are removed.

It must be understood that the invention is not restricted to theembodiment described above and shown in the drawings, but can bemodified within the scope of the following patent claims.

I claim:
 1. Electric toilet, comprising a cabinet (10), an opening (16)in the top side of the cabinet, a lid (14) provided in the opening (16),an upper bowl (18) arranged inside the opening, which bowl is openabledownwards, a combustion chamber (32) arranged beneath the upper bowl(18) with a combustion space (34) and provided with an upper part havingan opening (36) directed upwards, a lid (38) arranged in said combustionchamber opening, heating coils (44) arranged in the combustion space(34) and an evacuation device (48, 50, 52) connected to the combustionspace (34), characterized in that the upper part of the combustionchamber (32) is formed principally with a spherical interior surface andthat the heating coils (44) are arranged in the upper part of thecombustion space (34) to diverge in a radial direction outside thecircumference of the combustion chamber opening (36) along said interiorsurface, whereby, during use, waste falling through the combustionchamber opening is prevented from coming in contact with the heatingcoils.
 2. Electric toilet according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe heating coils run around the upper part of the combustion spacewithin an area which has the principal form of a spherical zone. 3.Electric toilet according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottomof the combustion space (34) is arranged with a turning device (46)directed upwards.
 4. Electric toilet according to claim 1, characterizedin that the evacuation device (48, 50, 52) is arranged with a catalyzer(50) for purifying the flue gases.
 5. Electric toilet according to claim1, characterized in that a trough (42) is arranged round the opening(36) of the combustion chamber (32).
 6. Electric toilet according toclaim 1, characterized in that the upper bowl (18) is formed withinwardly sloping front (20) and back walls (22) which meet along a lineand side walls (24), in that the upper bowl (18) is positioned inrelation to the opening (36) of the combustion chamber so that said lineis in the front edge of the opening (36) and that the back wall (22) ofthe upper bowl (18) is hinged openably.
 7. Electric toilet according toclaim 1, characterized in that the evacuation device is arranged with asuction fan (52) and that this fan is driven by low direct-currentvoltage.
 8. Electric toilet according to claim 7, characterized in thatthe suction fan takes supply air from the inside of the electric toiletand that the fan rotor (53) is not arranged in the path of the fluegases.
 9. Electric toilet according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe heating coils (44) are located so that they do not come into contactwith falling waste.
 10. Electric toilet according to claim 1,characterized in that the opening of the upper bowl and the lid for thecombustion chamber can only be activated when the protective lid isclosed.
 11. Electric toilet according to claim 10, characterized in thatopening/closing of the upper bowl and the lid for the combustion chamberis effected by means of electric motors.
 12. Electric toilet accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the combustion chamber (32) isarranged with an upper and a lower part (32b, 32a), that the lower part(32a) is arranged with feet or beads (58) on its underside, a base plate(60) arranged on the inside bottom of the cabinet, on which plate (60)the combustion chamber (32) stands with its beads (58) when the lowerpart (32a) is provided to the upper part (32b), which base plate isarranged with grooves (62) and ramps (64), in that when the lower partis to be dismantled, this is rotated, at which the beads slide down theramps and down into the grooves and the under-part can be pulled away.